Apparatus and a method of mixing leafy or fibrous materials



March 21, 1961 H. MULLER ET Al.

APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MIXING LEAFY OR FIBROUS MATERIALS Filed July 26, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheefl 1 March 2l, 1961 y MULLER E1-AL 2,975,787

APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MIXING LEAFY OR FIBROUS MATERIALS Filed July 2e, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 f4 ll 3 2 /`Z5 f@ :11:6 .B n 3 /f 36 sa B -75 4 "4 29 37 f l /f :0:5 -2'3 fy/i f90 ifa 5 fa 38 f3 .B l 6, I

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March 21, 1961 H. MULLER ET AL APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MIXING LEAFY OR FIBROUS MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26, 1955 APPARATUS AND A METHOD oF MIXING LEAFY on Francos MATERIALS Heinrich Mller, 49 Falkenstein, and Franz Muth, 14

Wulfsdale, both of Hamburg-Blankenese, Germany Filed July 26, 1955, Ser. No. 524,4924 Claims priority, application Germany July 30, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 131-108) This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for making up a definite mixture consisting of a plurality of components of material present in leaf-like or fibrous form, ie. in a form which does not permit mixing by stirring mechanisms, drums or other mixing devices suitable for pulverulent and granular materials, and also to apparatus suitable for carrying out the said method.

I'he problem of carrying out the'mixing of such substances with constant proportional ratios of theV compo# nents of the mixture occurs for example especially `in the manufacture of cigarettes for which it is especially important to ensure a constant quality of the tobacco mix ture for each brand of cigarettes. v

The preparation of such mixtures by hand necessitates a very `great expenditure in labour force. With a view to reducing this expenditure,` methods have already been known and in use for a long time in which at least part of themannal labour is replaced by mechanical means.

According toA one of these methods the individual tobaccos are simultaneously loosened in the desired relative proportions through a plurality of working channelsand supplied to individual conveyer bands which in turnkdeliver to a collecting band. This method has the disadvantage of a great requirement for operatives `because it is essential Athat there must Vbe atleast one operative even for the component of the mixture used in the smallest proportion.

The use of loosening `machines for the tobacco do'es indeed render possible a saving in operatives, but has the disadvantage that theindividual kinds of tobacco must be worked up consecutively on the loosening'machines';

Another known method, according to whichfthe kinds of tobacco are loosened consecutively and charged into a large container of which the'bottom is formed byan endless band in such a way that each kind of tobacco covers the cross-section of thecontainer'for the whole' length has' the disadvantage that Such a theoretically A obtainable correct distribution of the components offthe mixture is lost again upo-n removal from the container,

Finally, a method of mixing tobacco is known fin which the kinds of tobacco are supplied consecutively to a` stationary annular lspreading table by a radially-arranged band the delivery end of which consecutively charges the whole ring, whereupon the table is cleared by asingle rotation by means,l of a conveyer band which runs closely over'the surface: of the tableand progressively removes the ring consisting of the various layers situated on the tableas a whole inits circumferential direction, without an atual mixing ofthe various layers taking place. TheVV production of satisfactory mixtures from a'plurality of components present in very different percentage ratiosl is not possible by this method.'

Patented Mar. '2 1 i961` to a plurality of moving supports receiving the total` amount of all the components of the mixture which are to be worked up in one mixing operation, the size of these supports and/or the speed of movement of the supports during their individual applying steps being such that the component of the mixture which is present in the smallest percentage covers the entire surface of one of the Said supports at least once in the form of a uniform layer of small thickness, whereupon when all the supports have been filled, the whole of the material present on allthe supports is removed therefrom uniformly and simultaneously. The total layer on each support can thus consist of only one single component or also of a plurality of different components, for example kinds of tobacco, and must be kept so low in height that upon emptying the supports a light and continuous delivery of the material takes place. l

Figure 1 shows schematically, in side view, the principle of this invention;

Figure 2 illustrates schematically a perspective View of an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2a shows a fragmentary perspective View of the embodiment Vof Figure 2, however, in another operative position;

Figures 3 and 5 are plan views of a part of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, showing a detail thereof at two different operative steps;

v Figure 4 isa side 3V and 5; w

t Figure 6V is a plan view .ofY a modification of the part shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5; and v Figure`7v-illustrates, schematically in side View, an assembly vof a plurality of apparatus, such as that shown in Figure 2.

The fundamental idea of this method is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings The present invention avoidsr the diiculties and disadvantages of the known methods, both as regardsfthe need for operatives inthe substantially manual methods v*and as regards the defective automaticity and insufficiently uniform `quality 'of the mixture in the .mechanised methods, in an advantageous manner.

which shows a plurality (in the embodiment shown five) of endless bands arranged one above another which are covered 'in the manner described above with thinlayers for example of tobacco of equal thickness which, after filling the bands by setting them in motion, are'simultaneously discharged, the uniform flow being promoted if desired by shaking means which can be arranged at the end of the bands. and which act either on the tobacco directly or on its support.

Y Since the uniform charging of ak series of bands arranged one aboveanother in this way, although technically possible, is troublesome, according to the preferredy embodiment of the invention, asshown diagramrnatically in detail in Figure 2, the supports which receive the individual kinds of tobacco in systematic superposed layers are formed bya plurality of discs 2, 3, 4,. 5 and' 6 mounted on a common shaft l and vertically spaced from one another. The shaft l is mounted atthe top in `a bearing 7 and at the bottom in a bearing 8 which form part of a tower-shaped housing. For each of these discs` there is, provided a supply device, for example in the form of a lconveyer band 9, lil, 11, l2, and 13, which, as shown with the conveyerband 9, run over rollers 14 and 15 of which the roller 15 is provided with a driving wheel 16, which is driven by a chain, belt i7 or the like by a drivingmotor 18. The'driving motor 18, for example an electric motor, is secured to the base plate 19 of the housing (not shown) which receives the bearing 8. At 20 is shown one of the columns which serve to supf port the rollers 15..' The drive to the shaft 1 Vis effected view of the part shown in Figures also from the electric motor 18, preferably through a transmission 21 and two pinions 22 and 23 which enable the shaft 1 and consequently the discs 2 to 6 to be turned at different speeds during the individual tobacco layer applying steps.

The charging of the individual conveyer bands 9 to 13 takes place by way of discharge flaps 24 to 28 which are mounted to swivel on a rail 29 of the housing. These aps are supplied from a delivery device 30 which is shown merely diagrammatically. This delivery device or hopper 30 is adapted to be supplied consecutively by different kinds of tobacco, so as to apply different kinds of mixing components to the individual disks 2 to 6. The flaps 24 to 28 can be moved into and out of the charging position for example by means of hand levers 34 to 38 as shown in association with the flaps 24 to 28, respectively, whereby these flaps'canbe individually, i.e., separately, operated by means of their respective levers 34 to 38. The flap system is preferably operated automatically and controls the charging of the individual discs in sequence so that in each case the predetermined height of layer is reached on the appropriate disc. When the ap 24 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the uppermost conveyor band 9 can be charged. In Figure 2a, the flap 24 is swung in the retracted position by means of the hand lever 34, while the ap 25 is left in the same position as in Figure 2, so that the second conveyor band 10 can be charged. B represent the emptying means which will now be more closely described with reference to Figures 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

The supply and sequential delivery of the various kinds of tobacco are regulated so that at least one of the discs iis covered by at least one layer and as a rule by a plurality of layers throughout its whole surface by the smallest component of the mixture.

In order to achieve the necessary uniformity of the charge, the loosened material, before delivery to the discs, is preferably spread out in uniform distribution on a preparatory band which moves, simutaneously with the disc, at a speed proportionalto the speed of the disc so that the tobacco delivered from the preparatory band covers the circumferential surface of the disc in a plurality of layers. For example the speed of the pre` paratory band can be adjusted to four rotations of the disc. The most suitable choice of this relation is determined by the smallest component of the mixture.

As already mentioned in the fundamental embodiment of the invention, the layer of tobacco on each disc (which is the same height on all the discs) can consist either of one component of the mixture or also of a plurality of components of the mixture one above another.

Depending on the conditions, in particular on theV number and total amount of mixture components to be worked up in one mixing operation, there may be used, instead of a single disc tower, two or more such towers side by side which are charged consecutively. In practice the capacity of each such mixing tower is about 300 to 350 kilograms and thus corresponds to the requirements of the mechanical further processing of tobacco mixtures in cigarette machines.

The proper mixing of the components rendered possible by the above described spreading out and distribution of the components of the mixture by simultaneous delivery of the layers of tobacco situated on the individual supports (according to the preferred embodiment, rotating discs) takes place according to a special feature of the invention by a special clearing device which consists fundamentally of a separating wall of the maximum height of the tobacco layer embedded in the material during the charging of the discs, which extends from the central region of the disc to its periphery and which is inclined to the disc radius in the direction of rotation of the disc, and which for the purpose of clearing the disc during the simultaneous rota- 4 material with it as it moves simultaneously clears the entire cross-section of all the layers of material.

Two embodiments of clearing devices working in this way are illustrated in Figures 3 to 6, the first embodiment being shown in plan and side elevation in Figures 3 and 4 and 5 and a further embodiment in plan in Figure 6.

According to Figures 3 to 5 there is wound a plurality of turns about a cylindrical core body K which is common to all the discs arranged one above another, an upright band B of height H one end of which is secured for example to a pin A during the charging phase at a point A in the neighborhood of the periphery of the disc which is so situated that the band extends at an inclination to the radius in the direction of rotation. The band B is provided with a stiffening member V and is secured to the body K by means of a fastening element A. During the charging operation the band remains in position and takes part in the rotation of the disc. Above the band B, as may be seen from Figure 4, there is provided a stripper C which is stationarily mounted on supports below the delivery band D, in order to prevent tobacco lying on the upper edge of the band B during the charging.

lWhen,V after the charging of all the discs, if desired of a plurality of disc combinations arranged side by side, it is desired to remove the tobacco, the bands B are coupled with auxiliary bands E which, while simultaneously withdrawing the band from'the core K during the rotation of the discs, are rolled upon a driven cylinder F and thus clear the material situated on the discs in the direction ofthe band. This process is shown diagrammatically in Figure 5. Since a clearing band is provided for each disc, all the discs are cleared simultaneously and the uniform mixture is formed by the simultaneous fall of all the components of the mixture. A pushing of the tobacco under the band and a consequent hindrance to the clearing process is not possible because the band by reason of the said inclined position with regard to the direction of rotation of the disc runs parallel to the clearing direction of the tobacco. Inorder to facilitate the dropping of the tobacco from the disks during the discharging step, there is suitably provided a vertically vibrating frame 31 (see .Figure 2), which is oscillated by an eccentermechanism 32 via a linking member 33. This vibrating frame has parts which guide and support the tobacco sliding down from the disks, whereby, due to the oscillatory motion of the frame, a slight lifting and additional loosening of the tobacco material is obtained.

When the clearing process is completed, the clearing bands are wound up again on the drums by reversing the direction of rotation, and then detached from the auxiliary bands.

In order to impart a suflicient rigidity to the bands, which will prevent them from bending under the pressure of the tobacco, they may be provided with stitfening plates, :uch as T in Figure 6, on the side opposite to the Vtobacco being cleared.

xed to the disc and provided at its ends with rollersy R' and R".

- During the charging phase, this band is secured in the region of the guide rollers R and R. At the commencement of the clearing phase, the fixing is loosened and held, for example by a simple gripping device (not shown), so that the disc, as in the first-mentioned embodiment, moves independently of the band which is moved in the direction of the arrow by the rotation of the core member K, and beneath the same. 4

- Figure 7 shows diagrammatically a complete plant composed of a number, in the embodiment shown six, mixing towers each having five discs, for example, which may be used as shown in the drawing by charging a group of three towers and emptying the other group. Beneath the entire plant runs a conveyor band Z. It should be observed that the individual towers, in the clearing phase, must be operated in sequence in such a way that each begins to turn when the material from the preceding tower, after the beginning of the clearing phase, has va1- ready been moved bythe band Z as far as the following tower.

We claim:`

1. An apparatus for mixing leaf-like or brous materials having several mixing components, comprising in combination a plurality of disks, each of said disks being adapted to receive at least one layer of said mixing components, said disks being spacedly mounted in superimposed relationship on a common axis, means to rotate said disks together, feeding means to supply said mixing components consecutively to said disks during their rotation, and means to` remove said layers together from all of said disks.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotating means rotate all of said disks at the same speed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein stationary means are provided at each disk to strip ott therefrom any of said materials after a predetermined thickness of the latter has been accpmulated on each of said disks, when supplied by said feeding means while being rotated.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said Y feeding means comprise individual conveyor bands for each of said disks mounted thereabove, each of said bands supplying one of said disks. Y

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for removing said layers comprises an upright separating wall of the maximum height of the layer of material, embedded in the material during the charging of the discs, extending from the central region of the discs to their periphery and inclined to the radius in the direction of movement of the discs, said separating wall being secured to the disc during the charging phase and rotating therewith, and capable of outward movement for clearing the disc during rotation thereof.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said separating Wall is formed by a band wound up on a core on which are fixed the discs, the end of the band being secured to the disc at its periphery during the charging phase, and wherein a tractive means is provided by means of vwhich the end of the band, after being detached from the periphery of the disc, can be drawn out from the core during the clearing phase.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said band is provided with stitlening means on the side remote from the material.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said separating wall comprises two rollers and a stiifening plate therebetween mounted on said disc, an endless band passed around said two rollers and being arranged adjacent the ends of said stiirening plate and around a core, the said endless band being fixed during the clearing phase to a device situated outside the discs and thereby set in motion by the rotating core.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, comprising a stripper arranged above each of the tractive bands which prevents the material. from laying over the clearing band during the charging phase.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a vertically vibrating means, arranged in the path of the material falling simultaneously from all the discs during the clearing phase, and means to oscillate said vibrating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,226 Wales Mar. 26, 1850 1,682,017 Muller Aug. 28,1928 2,190,785 Heidelberg Feb. 20, 1940 2,570,270 Patterson Oct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,453 Great Britain Ian. 21, 1932 520,770 Germany Mar. 14, 1931 881,320 Germany .Tune 29, 1953 1,048,914 France Aug. 12, 1953 

